Introduction: Inequalities in mortality rates are consequences of the uneven distribution of many risk factors, including the different socio-economic development of the regions.
Materials and Methods: Data on the number of the population, the number of deaths and the studied socio- economic factors were obtained from the National Statistical Institute for a period of 13 years (2000 - 2012). For the regional comparisons, aged-standardized mortality rates are estimated with direct age-standardization using the revised (2013) European standard population.
Regional variations and the impact of socio-economic factors were examined with absolute and relative risk (95% CI); correlation and regression analysis.
Results: "Unhealthy places to live" are located in areas of high urbanization, former and/or current industrial centers. Regions such as Varna, Plovdiv and the capital Sofia have the most unfavorable death rates for neoplasms, colorectal, breast, uterine and lung cancer.
Our results clearly identified groups of areas that consistently keep the "leading" position in standardized mortality rates for several causes. Regions like Razgrad, Silistra, Sliven and Vidin are leading in mortality for all causes of death, but they are also leading in mortality from circulatory system diseases; for cardiovascular diseases - Vidin, Yambol, Montana, Vratsa; for external causes of death - Dobrich, Silistra, Yambol and Sliven. Conclusion: Analysis of the socio-economic inequalities is essential in order to get the complete picture of the regional health situation and to develop relevant policy-making for the "prevention" of the "unhealthy models".
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